Tuesday, April 1, 2025

In the Former "Steel Capital of the World": Dinner and Oldies at the Tap Room of Iconic Hotel Bethlehem, Pennsylavania, USA, March 2025






Ahead of a presentation (The Wines of Germany) led by Annette Schiller Ombiasy Public Relations and Wine Tours at the American Wine Society in Allentown, Pennsylvania, Annette and I stayed a night at the iconic Historic Hotel Bethlehem in Bethlehem and had dinner at the Tap Room Restaurant of the hotel. 

See:  A Journey Through Germany - Tasting 13 Wines (Sparkling, Dry White and Red) at the Lehigh and Northampton Chapters of the American Wine Society in Allentown, Pennsylvania, led by Annette Schiller, ombiasy WineTours






Bethlehem Steel

Pennsylvania, particularly Pittsburgh and Bethlehem, played a pivotal role in the American steel industry, becoming known as the "steel capital of the world" for a century, driven by technological advancements, abundant resources, and the rise of prominent industrialists like Andrew Carnegie, an immigrant from Scotland.

Bethlehem Steel existed for 150 years, from 1857 to 2003. At the hight, it was a symbol of America's manufacturing leadership in the world. The company's steel was used in the construction of many of the nation's most famed structures, like the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. It played an instrumental role during WW I an II.
 
In 2001, Bethlehem Steel filed for bankruptcy, becoming the 25th American steel-making company in the span of four years between 1998 and 2001 to file for bankruptcy protection. Bethlehem Steel, once a giant of the American steel industry, disappeared due to a combination of factors including increased foreign competition, rising labor costs, and the rise of "mini-mills" that could produce steel more efficiently and cheaply.
 
The Wines
 
I brought a 2007 Weingut Friedrich Becker Kammerberg GG Spaetburgunder from my cellar (corkage fee was US25) and bought a bottle of Red Tail Ridge Winery Chardonnay Pat Nat there. 
 
The wine searcher average price for the Kammerberg is US$138. Our bottle was at its prime and showed why Germany is becoming a serious competitor for Burgundy. Friedrich Becker is one of the pioneers of German Pinot Noir. He passed away a few days ago. RIP Friedrich Becker. 
 
The Pat Nat from the Finger Lakes was an outlier in an otherwise disappointing wine list (uninteresting, though reasonably priced wines).
 
Arriving
 





Historic Hotel Bethlehem
 


 
Garden Terrace Restaurant
 
We had a choice between the Garden Terrace Restaurant and the Tap Room Restaurant.
 


Tap Room Restaurant
 





Food
 



Wine
 





Music
 





 
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Saturday, March 29, 2025

Lunch at La Mule du Pape in the Center of Châteauneuf-du-Pape - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours





Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours led by Annette Schiller took place from October 13 - October 23. The tour started in Lyon and ended in Châteauneuf-du-Pap/ Avignon. There were 8 of us including Annette and me. 

The Rhône Valley is one of the oldest wine regions in France, and the second largest after Bordeaux. The Greeks introduced viticulture in the 4th century BC. Later the Romans came and brought viticulture to a different level. Since then the world has discovered Rhône wines and some of the most famous wines come from the Rhône Valley. The vineyards are located on both sides of the river. The Rhône Valley is divided into two distinctively different regions: the Northern Rhône and the Southern Rhône. 

For an overview see: Overview: Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours led by Annette Schiller - Facebook Day-by-day Postings
 
Following:
 
 
we had lunch at La Mule du Pape, right next to the Boutique Famille Perrin. Before lunch, some of us walked a bit around in the village of Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

Châteauneuf-du-Pape 

In the 13th century, during their stay in Avignon, the Popes – especially Pope John XXII - built a papal summer castle in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. They found out that the area had exceptional soils, and they established vineyards on the slopes surrounding the summer palace. 

I found a nice article in the Los Angeles Time: “Popes throughout history have liked their juice, and when the Papal Seat moved to Avignon in the 13th century, that juice was Châteauneuf-du-Pape ("the pope's new castle") made from grapes grown nearby in the Southern Rhône. The castle is a ruin now, the papal court long gone back to Rome, but the wines that bear the pope's coat of arms emblazoned on the bottles are still produced more or less according to the long-standing recipe. Not every winemaker uses all 13 of the grapes in the prescribed blend, though.” 

The wines grow on a soil that is a mixture of large quartz stones (galets roulés) and sandy red clay. The large sun-warmed galets roulés reflect the sunlight and diffuse a gentle, provençal heat that helps the grapes to mature and their juice to concentrate. A very strong southern wind - the Mistral - whips up through the Rhône valley from the Mediterranean Sea and creates a welcome cooling effect, since the region can be pretty hot and dry. 

With more than 8,000 acres under vine, Châteauneuf-du-Pape is the largest appellation in the Rhône. It was the first wine region in France to gain AOC (today AOP) status in 1936.

Châteauneuf-du-Pape











Lunch









Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours - Postings on schiller-wine (Published and Forthcoming):
 

Arriving in Lyon: Saucisson Sec, Saint-Marcellin Cheese and a Bottle of Rhône Rouge at Le Broc'Bar for Dinner - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Sunday Morning Stroll on the St. Antoine Market on the Banks of the Soane River Market in Lyon - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Meet&Greet (+ Introduction to the Rhône Valley Region) at Grand Hôtel des Terreaux in Lyon and Guided Sightseeing Tour of Lyon - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

"Menu Tradition" at Grand Café des Négociants - Created in 1864 - in Lyon - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

At the Foot of the Hermitage Hill and Tasting at Maison M. Chapoutier in Tain l’Hermitage - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Lunch with a View of the Hermitage Hill at Brasserie Route N7 in Tain l’Hermitage - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Quick Stop at Valrhona, the Famous Chocolate Producer, in Tain l’Hermitage - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Domaine Philippe & Vincent Jaboulet, Croze-Hermitage, with Philippe & Vincent Jaboulet - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

3-course Dinner at Restaurant Le Quai in Tain L’Hermitage - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Caveau Ferraton Père & Fils in Tain L’Heremitage, with Jerome Nuss - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Tasting at Domaine Yves Cuilleron in Chavanay, Northern Rhône, with Thibaut Jager - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Next to Maison Guigal: Lunch at Le Bistro de Serine in Ampuis - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Cellar Tour at Maison Guigal and Guigal Tasting at Château d’Ampuis, with Kim Conley - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Focus on "Natural Wine": Meeting Alice Feiring at Le Moderne Wine Bar of Romane Vallon in Toulon - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Tasting in the Cellar at Cave Sébastien Blachon in Saint-Jean de Muzols, Northern Rhône, with Sébastien Blachon - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting from Barrel and from Bottle at Domaine Alain Graillot in Pont-de-l’Isère, Northern Rhône, with Maxime Graillot - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

High-end Wine Pairing Lunch at La Grand Table Maison Chabran, with Chef Louis Chabran and Legend Michel Chabran - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

High-end Tasting at Paul Jaboulet Aîné in Tain-l’Hermitage, Northern Rhône - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Tasting at Domaine Alary in Cairanne, Southern Rhône, with Jean Etienne Alary and Senior Boss Denis Alary - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours 

Tasting at Domaine Chaume-Arnaud in Vinsobres, Southern Rhône, with Valérie Chaume-Arnaud and Virginia Fréguin - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Lunch at Restaurant Le Mesclun in Séguret, with Artist Chef Christophe Bonzi - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Tasting and Cellar Tour at Domaine Saint Gayan in Gigondas, Southern Rhône, with Owner/ Winemaker Christian-Yves Carré de Lusançay - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Dinner at Restaurant Domaine de Cabasse, Séguret - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Domaine des Pasquiers in Sablet, Southern Rhône, with Jean Claude, Philippe and Perrin Lambert - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Tasting in the Front-yard at Domaine La Ligière in Beaumes-de-Venise - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

3-course Lunch at Restaurant Auberge Saint Roch in Beaumes-de-Venise, with the Husband and Wife Team Johann and Isabelle from Corsica - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Tasting in the Cellar at Domaine La Martinelle in Lafare, Ventoux, with Owner/ Winemaker Corinne Faravel - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Charcuterie and Cheese Dinner with Rosé Wines at Hôtel Le Mas de l’Oulivié, Les Baux de Provence - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Olive Trees Tour, Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting at Mas de Gourgonnier in Mouriès, Alpilles, with Owner/ Winemaker Eve Cartier - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

3-course Lunch at Le Mas Teulière in Maussane-les-Alpilles - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Van Gogh and the Romans: Sightseeing in Arles - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Lunch with a View at Restaurant Les Terrasses at the Pont du Gard - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Avignon - Town of the Popes: Guided Tour of the Palace of the Popes and of Pont Saint-Bénézet - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineToursLight 

Light Dinner at Restaurant Le Carré du Palais near the Palais des Papes in Avignon - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Domaine du Pègau in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, with Owner/ Winemaker Laurence Féraud and Winemaker Andreas Lenzenwöger (from Austria) - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Wine Pairing Lunch at Vignobles Alain Jaume, Domaine Grand Veneur in Courthézon, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, with Hélène Jaume and Chef Axel Thomas
- Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Domaine Berthet-Rayne in Courthézon, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, with Owner/ Winemaker Laure Berthet-Rayne (Laure Capeau) - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours 

Light Dinner in the old part of Avignon near "Les Halles", the Central Food Market - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Bottling and Tasting at Château de Ségriès in Lirac, with Owner/ Winemaker Henri de Lanzac - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Tasting Château de Beaucastel Wines at Boutique Famille Perrin in the Village of Châteauneuf-du-Pape - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Lunch at La Mule du Pape in the Center of  Châteauneuf-du-Pape - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Cellar Tour, Vineyard Tour and Tasting at Château Gigognan in Sorgues, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, with Head Winemaker Jenna Le Lay - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Michelin-star level Wine-pairing Dinner at Hôtellerie du Château des Fines Roches in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, with Chef Hugo Loridan-Fombonnet - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours